Electric switch.



OLE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1915.

1 1 8 1 ,966 Patented May 2, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. COLE, OF NEWTON HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

"Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton Highlands, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a magnetically operated electric-switch or circuit-controller, and has for its object an improved construction and relative arrangement of the switch-members, and cooperating parts whereby positive operation and good electric connections are obtained, and the mem bers, when in engagement, are not apt to stick and thereby prevent their ready operation by the armature of a polarized electro-magnet.

The switch is designed primarily for locally controlling by means of a polarized electro-magnet which is connected in a signal-circuit, flash-lights and bells on the street, which are connected in an electriclight circuit, for the purpose of signaling policemen or clearing the streets for approach of fire apparatus.

The invention involves the construction and relative arrangement of stationary contact-members adapted to be engaged by a movable switch-member; also the construction of the movable switch-member and the construction of parts by and through which it is operated.

The stationary contact-members, two being here shown, consist of blocks of carbon supported at the extremities of resilient adjustably mounted arms, which are or may be arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, said blocks facing each other and arranged with a space between their adjacent faces to receive between them the movable switch-member and permit movement of said member into engagement with either block. The movable switchmember consists of a cylindrical block or roll of carbon journaled at the lower extremity of a vertically disposed resilient arm, saidroll being arranged in the space between the carbon blocks and movable into engagement with either block by a deflection of the arm. The engaging-faces of the blocks are curved on the arc of a circle corresponding to the engaging edge or face of the roll, and by reason of the supportingarms of all of said members being resilient,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

the roll may be caused to engage the entire engaging-face of either block, the support mg arms deflecting, if necessary, to admit of self-adjustment of the engaging-members, whereby contact surfaces of large area are insured. The resiliency of the supportlug-arm of the movable switch-member more particularly admits of its deflection for oscillation of said member for engagement with one or the other block. Said arm is deflected for this purpose by means of a compound lever which is arranged to be operated by the rocking armature of a polarized electro-magnet.

Figure l is a front elevation of an electric-switch embodying this invention, the parts being in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being moved into circuit-closing position. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the switch shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in the dotted line H, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the engaging-members. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the supports for the stationary members.

A back-board 10 of insulating material, such as slate, is here shown arranged to support the component elements of the switch and its operating-means. The stationary switch-members are or may be made substantially alike, and each consists of a block 12 of carbon supported at the eX- tremity of a flexible arm 13, which arm is clamped in a slot through a post 14, by a nut 1 1* engaging a threaded end-portion of said post, so that it may be adjustable longitudinally readily and with precision, and said post is arranged on a plate 15 to which a circuit-wire may be connected. The arm 13 is preferably made flexible for easy manual adjustment, and is also resilient to admit of self-adjustment of the block borne by it by an endwise pressure upon the block. The two arms 13, 13, are here shown as arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, and the blocks 12, 12, are arranged with a space between them for the movable switch-member. The adjacent faces of the blocks serve as the engagingfaces for the movable switch-member, and said faces are preferably curved on the arc of a circle or otherwise formed complementary with the engaging-face of the movable switch-member. These carbon blocks are made quite large, so that their engaging-faces will present contact-surfaces of of carbon, journaled or fastened at the' lower extremity of an arm 21, clamped in a slot through the post 22, so as to permit of ready longitudinal adjustment and which is secured to or arranged in connection with a plate 23, to which circuit-wires may be connected. Said carbon-roll 20, is arranged in the space between the opposing faces of the carbon-blocks 12, 12, and is movable from a middle position into engagement with either of said blocks. The supporting-arm 21 is resilient to admit of its being deflected for the purpose of oscillating the roll in a path about the post 22, as a center, for engagement with one or the other carbonblock. Said roll is arranged to engage the curved engaging-faces of the blocks, and in case it does not accurately fit said faces, but a slight endwise pressure only is required to deflect the arms bearing said blocks to and cause the roll to engage substantially the entire contact-surfaces of the blocks to insure a good electrical connection. For the purpose of oscillating the movable switchmember a lever is employed, which is pivoted at 31, and has an extension 33, of insulating material at its upper end from which a pin 34 extends rearwardly, which pin passes through alined holes in the bifurcated end-portion of the arm 21, which also holds the roll 20. Movement of said lever on its pivot acts to correspondingly deflect said arm 21, and thereby move the roll. The lower end-portion of said lever below its pivot has connected with it a tension-spring 35, by which said lever is normally held in vertical position,-said spring yielding to permit movement of said lever on its pivot. Said spring is attached at one end to one of a series of holes in the extending end of the lever and at its other end to an adjusting-screw 36, and by means of said screw and the attaching holes for the said spring a great range of adjustment may be obtained. This lower end-portion of the arm 30 has an elongated hole 40, and a pin 4.1, with or without a roll thereon, is arranged to work in said hole, and said pin is secured to and extended laterally from an arm l2, which is connected with the armature 43, of the magnet 50. This armature 43, is pivoted at a point intermediate its length, on a stud secured to the iron plate 44, fastened at the front end of the iron extension 45, of a permanent magnet 46. The.

armature is arranged close to said plate, and as said plate and extension become strongly saturated with magnetism from said permanent magnet, said armature is effected. At the opposite end of said permanent magnet the electromagnet is mounted, its cores being secured in the iron plate 51, fastened to and forming an extension of said permanent magnet.

The armature is normally held in a central or balanced position, equidistant from each core by the tension-spring 35, but will be rocked from such position toward one or the other of said cores, to move the oscillating member 21 and roll 20 for engagement with one 01' the other contact-member. The two contact-members are or may be employed for the accomplishment of different objects, as, for instance, when the switch is thrown in one direction for engagement with one of the contact-members a bell may be sounded, and when thrown in the other direction for engagement with the other contact-member a lamp may be lighted.

The tension of the armature arranged in the manner shown, especially through a compound lever, gives a great leeway for the operating current, as when the armature is in its central position and farthest from the cores, the spring offers but little resistance to its free operation by the electromagnet, so that a small current can move it.

On account of the possibilities of this arrangement for relative adjustment of the tension for the armature, the switch may not only be capable of correct operation under a great variation of current, but it may be adjusted to respond completely only to a current above a certain value and not to respond to a current of lower value, such as might be used for other signaling purposes on the same circuit.

On the face of the armature, and between it and each core, is a strip of non-magnetic material 60, which prevents the iron armature and the cores from intimate contact to effect a closed magnetic circuit, and cause sticking; but before the armature reaches its limit of motion, it will cause the switchcontacts to close, and enable a good connection to be made.

After the contacts are closed the armature will then further flex the spring supporting the movable member, but as both of its ends are now held the tension against the armature increases very rapidly and this spring will then give a strong kick to force the armature quickly to return to normal position when the circuit is again opened or is restored to normal condition.

1. An electric-switch comprising two resilient arms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, contact-blocks arranged at the extremities of said arms with a space between them, the adjacent ends of said blocks serving as engaging-faces, an oscillating block arran ed in the space between said contact-bloc s, and means for oscillating said block to move it into engagement with either contact-block, and also to exert thereupon an endwise pressure suflicient to deflect said resilient arms.

2. An electric-switch comprising two selfadjusting arms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, contact-blocks arranged at the extremities of said arms with a space between them, the adjacent ends of said blocks being curved and serving as engaging-faces, a vertically disposed resilient arm bearing a roll arranged in the space between said contact-blocks, and means for defleeting said arm to move the roll into engagement with either contact-block, and also to exert thereupon an end-wise pressure to cause the roll to engage substantlally the entire enga ging-face thereof.

0. An electric-switch comprising two arms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, carbon-blocks arranged at the extremities of said arms with a space between them, the adjacent ends of said blocks being formed to serve as engaging-faces, a carbonroll arranged in the space between said blocks, and supporting-means therefor, permitting movement of said roll bodily into engagement with either block, and means for moving said roll.

4:. An electric-switch comprising two stationary members, a movable member arranged between them, a pivoted lever having an extension of insulating material operatively connected with said movable member, said lever having an elongated hole through it, a spring attached at one end to said lever, and at the other end to an adjusting screw for holding said lever with he movable member in open-circuit position, an arm having a pin working in the hole in said lever, a pivoted armature bearing said arm, a permanent magnet with which said armature is associated, and an electro-magnet with which said armature cooperates, which is associated with said permanent magnet.

5. An electric-switch comprising two stationary members, and a movable member arranged between them, a compound levermechanism for operating said movable member consisting of a lever pivoted intermediate its length, its upper end-portion operatively engaging said movable member, and its lower end-portion having a hole, a pivoted arm bearing a pin which is arranged to work in said hole, a pivoted armature bearing said arm, a spring attached to said lever for holding the lever-mechanism with the movable member in open-circuit position, and a polarized electro-magnet with which said armature is arranged for cooporation.

6. An electric switch comprising two stationary-members, a movable-member arranged between them, lever mechanism operatively engaging said movable-member, a pivoted armature to which a component part of said lever-mechanism is attached, a permanent magnet having an extension bearing the pivot pin for said armature, said permanent magnet having an uprightportion with a forward extension at its upper end, a pair of electro-magnets attached to and depending from said forward extension, the cores of which are arranged for cooperation with said armature.

7 An electric-switch comprising two stationary-members, a movable-member arranged between them, lever-mechanism operatively connected with said movablemember, a pivoted armature to which a component part of said lever-mechanism is attached, a permanent magnet having an extension bearing the pivot pin for said armature, said permanent magnet having an upright-portion with a forward extension at its. upper end, a pair of electro-magnets attached to and depending from said forward extension, the cores of which are arranged for cooperation with said armature, said forward extension having a hole through it up through which said levermechanism extends.

8. An electric-switch comprising a stationary member and a movable member, said stationary member consisting of a flat arm bearing a contact-block at one end, and a slotted post arranged to receive the other end of said arm, the slotted end-portion of the post being threaded to receive upon it a nut by which said end-portion is held in clamping engagement with the arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK WV. COLE.

Nitnesses B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

